PILLARS PODCAST 🎙

Jodi Johnson is an impressive young man.  Jodi is born and raised Delaware, but when he's not by the seashore, Jodi is in New York's Catskill Mountains in his last semester at Hartwick College.  In the beginning of 2023, Jodi started the Down Bad Podcast -- talking about his relationship with his mental health as a way to destigmatize and normalize the conversation about perhaps the most important thing -- out mental wellbeing.

Jodi -- you are an inspiration -- you are the reason why I have my podcast.


w/ love,

Billy G!

#jodijohnson #downbadpodcast #mentalhealth #hartwickcollege #rehobethbeachpatrol #delaware #destigmatizementalhealth #loveyourselffirst #thegerrishexperiment #thegerrish3xperiment #localpodcast #tellyourstory #speakyourpassion #theworldkneelsbeforeloveitisinawe #bethechange #betheinspiration #whatlightsyourfire #TGE #TG3 #LOVE #BillyG

SUNBACK has forever been synomous with Christmas! Early 20th century, Mr. Eric Sunback’s father had an affinity for the Christmas tree because it reminded him of his native Sweden. In 1956 young Eric sold his first tree for 25 cents, and from then on Sunback’s life has been all Christmas trees — going on to establishing two premier Christmas tree lots in the Washington DC area!

If you’re any kind of Washingtonian, there’s Sunback, and  there’s all the rest. Never choose the rest when you’ve got the best!

Dan Taylor and Brian Holler worked with Sunback since high school, and in 1996 Sunback helped Dan & Bryan start their own tree farm. And kinda the rest is history.

RIP, MR. ERIC SUNBACK, and thank you for bringing Christmas joy to countless Washingtonians. Cheers to a mighty life well lived to the ripe age of 94 years young — there must be something in the tree sap!

If you want the best at DAN AND BRYANS — you better get your December duff out there because their trees are going like hotcakes to all the beautiful and happy families and they’re sure to be all gone by weekend’s end!

Great job Dan and Bryan and their Christmas “Tree-Team!” Thank you, Mr. Bryan Holler, for taking the time to sit down with me during peak season! And . . . . 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

w/ love,


Billy G!

I get interview by a pair of old and great friends on the origin story of the podcast.

Thank you for being interested in what I do — it means the world and is the highest form of love. 

I appreciate our friendship immensely!




w/ love,

Billy G!

#friendship #friendshipisthebestship #highschoolbuds #georgetownprep #thegerrish3xperiment  #thegerrishexperiment #TG3 #TGE#billygerrishexperiment #localpodcast #tellyourstory #speakyourpassion #theworldkneelsbeforeloveitisinawe #curiouslikeacat #sometimestheycallmewhiskers #merrychristmas #love #billyg

The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is to ensure the safety and health of American communities by combating criminal drug networks bringing harm, violence, overdoses, and poisonings to the United States. To accomplish this mission, the DEA employs approximately 10,000 personnel throughout the world – Special Agents, Diversion Investigators, Intelligence Analysts, Chemists, and professional staff – across 241 domestic offices in 23 Divisions and 93 foreign offices across the globe.

Jack McFarland is a Supervisory Special Agent (Retired) of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Jack’s career with the DEA spanned 32 years – taking him from the coal country of Pennsylvania to streets of Allentown and Philadelphia – and then on to Quantico where he trained agents in “tactics,” down to Caribbean where he lead teams of agents in the belly of the beast of the drug trade of the Americas, then back to the home to the mean streets of Baltimore, and finally onto to numerous assignments at HeadQuarters in Washington. 

In order to stop the bad guys you have to go to the source – and that’s what Jack spent his life doing – and even now as a “retired” agent his passion for his mission and craft could not be more keen.  Too bad Uncle Sam makes agents step away from duty at 57 years of age – or else Jack would still be on the beat and beating the bad customers – all to protect the freedom and security of the American way of life.  It is because of the work of Jack and his guys and gals that we as Americans have come to expect the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of this beautiful nation.  On the week of Thanksgiving, we all thank you, Jack – SALUTE.

I hope you enjoy this awesome podcast (I sure did) – now herrrrrrre’s JACK!

w/ love,


Billy G!

#DEA #USdrugenforcementagency #badass #warondrugs #allentown #philadelphia #quantico #caribbean #DEAtactics #marioncatholichighschool #supervisorspecialagentDEA #mcfarlandrule #bethanybeach #chasethesun #beachbuddies #thegerrish3xperiment #thegerrishexperiment #tellyourstory #speakyourpassion #theworldkneelsbeforeloveitisinawe #localpodcast  #tge #tg3 #love #billyg

Sean’s older brother, Bryan, passed away on January 27, 2022 at the age 26.  Bryan was the energy, light, joy, friend to so many.  Sean has since picked up the football to run with it – honoring Bryan in everything he does – coaching, relationships, life, and THE BRYAN 11 FOUNDATION.  Over the course of 2 years the Strittmatters have generated enough support and love to help 11 high schoolers down the pathway of life.  This is a remarkable testament to the love that Bryan generated in his brief time here on earth.  

Bryan’s love is still very much alive, and in our challenging times, the future shines bright for so many young people because of Bryan, the Strittmatter family, and everyone who continues to love Bryan and how Bryan lived.

"The Bryan 11 Foundation gives student-athletes the financial support they may need to attain a private education in the greater Washington D.C. area.

The Bryan 11 Foundation is not solely focused around the financial support but also to the commitment of each student’s endeavors faced during their four years in high school. We believe as a foundation that every student has the opportunity to explore their talents and receive an education at a school of their choosing, while putting the financial costs to the side. The Bryan 11 Foundation is striving to be committed to these students who are pursuing their love of sports and to keeping the legacy of Bryan Strittmatter close to their hearts."

Sean, thank you for telling Bryan’s story – you are mature beyond your years – and maybe that’s the Bryan living on in you.  Please check out:
https://bryan11foundation.org/ -- & please consider giving a gift toward the future of healthy young men.

From the beach overlooking the ocean, thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy our conversation.  Next time Sean, we do it at the beach – Bryan would like that – now here’s Sean!

w/ love,


Billy G!

#bryan11foundation #thebryan #annualgala #legacy #givingback #makingadifference #youngpeopleforchange #DCyouths #toughtimesmaketoughmen #thegerrish3xperiment #thegerrishexperiment #tellyourstory #speakyourpassion #theworldkneelsbeforeloveitisinawe #localpodcast  #tge #tg3 #love #billyg

Courtney Stecker – Battens Disease – #157

Wheeler is the beautiful boy of Judy and Courtney Stecker.  Unfortunately, Wheeler was born with a genetic anomaly that affects the development and functioning of his brain — fortunately Wheeler is a warrior and the Steckers have all the determination and love to help Weller’s brain get better.  

Wheeler has  Battens disease — an extremely rare genetic condition for which there is no cure — YET! Symptoms manifest at a young age and the chances of living past teens can be slim, and right now there are only 500 known cases of Battens in the US — but there is hope in research and there is hope in medicine.  In just the short span of Wheeler’s life, the first ever treatment to combat Battens has been developed.  With science, hope, and love anything is possible — that’s how Wheeler rolls; that’s how the Steckers roll — and money helps too!

https://beyondbatten.org/stecker-research-fund/

Thank you Courtney for telling the Wheeler story (part 1) and speaking your passion.  The more people know the closer we move to a cure and to erase Batten from the collective lexicon.  And hopefully one day Wheeler will sit with Wheeler jr. on his knee to tell him about some stupid and strange disease that no longer exists!

“Remember Red — Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.  

I will be hoping that this letter finds you and finds you well.”

 — The Shawshank Redemption (the #1 ranked movie of all time on IMDb)

(If Red and Andy can do it, so can Wheeler!)

#Wheelerswarriors #rarekido #Battendisease #cln3 #raredisease #battlebatten #raredad #superdad #beyondbatten #beatbatten #thegerrishexperiment #thegerrish3xperiment #thegerrish #tellyourstory #speakyourpassion #theworldkneelsbeforeloveitisinawe #localpodcast #tge #tg3 #love #billyg

Timmy Connolly came to me by way of my beautiful sister Linda and East Carolina – and ever since, we’ve been kindred spirits.  Last year on this day, November 2, Timmy’s mother died from Glioblastoma – a cruel and aggressive form of brain cancer.  Broadly brain cancer is under-funded – so to honor his mother and to help solve the stupid problem of cancer, last month Timmy hiked the Grand Canyon as a member of the 3000 Miles To A Cure team – 26 miles, 10,141 feet of altitude change – one day – from the north rim to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  In their own words:

It is a powerful metaphor for the race to end brain cancer. The canyon represents the valley of death of underfunded research. We know that funding brain tumor research will change the future for those diagnosed with brain cancer and that if money is the problem, it’s a problem that can be solved. Together, we can do this.

Timmy – it is always a treat to be with you – and especially outside by the fire, smoking cigar, lots of laughs, and remembering your beautiful mom who is looking down with the hope that each conversation and trek will move us closer and closer to erasing the scourge of cancer from the face of the planet.

If you have it in your heart, please donate to Timmy’s cause:

3000 Miles To A Cure

w/ love,

Billy G!

***The views on this podcast are in no way a representation of the Department of Defense***  Do I have your attention – ha!

Riley Avelina is the latest guess on THE GERRISH 3xperiment.  It’s not easy being a woman in a man’s world.  Riley is a tough, wise, inspiring young lady who is a commanding officer in the United States Army.  Unicorns and rainbows are not the way of the military – more so for a young lady in a company of men.  Past obstacle, resistance, abuse, assault – Riley stands taller and more resilient than ever – a most powerful role model to all girls out there who may feel the pull to serve and protect the red, white, and blue.

Riley – thank you for being vulnerable – this is a podcast that I will not long forget – and thank you for your service to our one-of-a-kind nation.  You are a one-of-a-kind person – never stop inspiring and go HERCULES!

#rileyavelina #usamry #armywomen #abusesurvivor #medusahead #armybrat #thegerrish3xperiment #thegerrishexperiment #thegerrish #tellyourstory #speakyourpassion #theworldkneelsbeforeloveitisinawe #localpodcast #tge #tg3 #love #billyg

Brendan and Sean Touhey started PEACE PLAYERS over two decades ago in Ireland and South Africa using basketball and the unique power of sport to bring people together across societal divides.  In 2005 the Touheys brought Peace Players to the Middle East -- Israel, the West Bank, Cyprus -- to help heal the centuries old divisions between Jew and Palestinian.  Presently Peace Players are at home in 5 major US cities -- bridging divides through the mysterious and beautiful power of sport -- and specifically the round ball 🏀!

Thank you Brendan -- you are an inspiration!

w/ love,


Billy G!

For the last decade THE BOB KEMP CLASSIC has brought top-notch NCAA talent to Georgetown Prep as a way to honor the Bob Kemp legacy of faith, family, athletics.  The Kemp name has always been synonymous with lacrosse and charity, and the BK-CLASSIC benefits the WASHINGTON JESUIT ACADEMY -- helping to provide a young man of DC a top-notch education.

It's Notre Dame v Princeton and the game is free -- but if you are a fan of lacrosse and a believer in education as the real answer for America, then please consider donating to THE BOB KEMP CLASSIC.


w/ love,


Billy G!